YAHYA SINWAR IS NOW IMMORTALIZED
By Vincent Lyn
Does the world expect us to be well-behaved victims while we are getting killed? For us to be slaughtered without making a noise?” — Yahya Sinwar.
Images capturing Yahya Sinwar’s final moments have ignited a surge of artistic expression, protest, and discourse throughout the Arab world and beyond. Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and one of Israel’s most sought-after targets, was killed on October 16 during an Israeli military operation in Gaza, a year into Israel’s ongoing offensive against the Gaza Strip.
For many observers, activists, and Palestinians, the footage of his final moments — released by the Israeli military — has become a powerful symbol of resistance and sacrifice. The video, widely shared online, shows Sinwar, injured and missing an arm, shrouded in the debris of a crumbling building. As he notices the drone overhead, he flings a stick towards it in what many have interpreted as a “last act of defiance,” embodying the resilience of the Palestinian cause. This imagery has since become a central motif in global protests and artistic interpretations.
Yahya Sinwar stands, depicted as a figure who fought to his last breath, symbolizing unwavering resistance. Far from an image of defeat, these visuals are seen by many Palestinians as a testament to his martyrdom and heroism — a brave Arab leader who resisted occupation until his final moments. “If Israel believes this image humiliates Sinwar in the eyes of Gazans who support the pro-Iranian axis, they are gravely mistaken. The release of the video has instead cemented Sinwar’s legendary status, ensuring his legacy lives on in the collective memory.
The frustration with the Israeli narrative is palpable as it is interpreted the clip as showing a fearful man facing defeat. But, it is obvious they clearly don’t understand Hamas. One must stop viewing this through an Israeli lens, pointing out how Sinwar is celebrated across the Arab world. Indeed, Israel played a part in building Sinwar’s reputation both in life and death. Those who dismiss him as merely another enemy fail to grasp the depth of his impact — he was a sophisticated strategist who delivered one of the most severe blows in Israel’s history.
Contrary to claims, Sinwar neither fled to Egypt nor hid in luxury. In his final moments, he was without bodyguards, facing his fate head-on. When your enemy falls, do not rejoice. Israeli arrogance, could easily lead to another October 7 in the future.
The Zionist propaganda spread rumors that Yahya Sinwar had escaped to Qatar, abandoning his people. They said he was hiding in tunnels, using hostages as shields. They claimed he lived in luxury while Gaza was reduced to ashes.
But the truth is far different. Yahya Sinwar never turned his back on his people. He stood with them, on the front lines, sharing in their suffering and struggles. He remained in Gaza until his final breath, fighting for his people. He was the kind of leader that Americans and Europeans can only hope to have when their own time of crisis comes.
Sinwar died an honorable death — a warrior’s death — united with his people, defending his land against a genocidal occupier and colonizer. His final moments seemed almost scripted by a master playwright: not in a hidden bunker or palace, but on the battlefield, resisting until the very end. He fought with courage and resilience, even mortally wounded, throwing a stick at a drone with one arm after tying a tourniquet around the other. That last act of defiance, bleeding and knowing the end was near, immortalized him.
If there’s a single word to describe his death, it’s Hemingwayan. It felt like a scene from a Hemingway novel set in Palestine. I have no doubt who Hemingway would side with in this conflict. Watching it unfold reminded me of the closing moments of For Whom the Bell Tolls, with rebels holding their ground on a hill, surrounded by fascists, knowing full well they wouldn’t survive.
Sinwar knew the end had come, but he did not break. A proud Palestinian, a son of Gaza, and a Muslim to his last breath. Born in 1962 in Khan Younis to a family of refugees from Al-Majdal, he was only five when Israel occupied Gaza — a grip it still maintains, though not forever.
In his final act of defiance, he hurled debris at an IDF drone, and I wondered: did he, as a young boy, also throw stones at Israeli soldiers in Gaza? What that refugee, who spent 22 years in Israeli prisons, set in motion on October 7 is bound to reshape world history.
Sinwar’s final moments will be immortalized as an inspiring legacy of resistance and resilience, inspiring future generations. His unwavering defiance, even in the face of overwhelming odds, stands as a testament to the strength of his convictions and the enduring struggle of his people.
Vincent Lyn
CEO & Founder of We Can Save Children
Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations (ECOSOC)
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts Lyn